Humanities & Classics 3270
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Sixties Forum
Humanities & Classics 3270 |
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When I first started playing on the sixties website I went to The Dead page and found tons of great stuff. But, the one pice I ran across that really hit me was Robert Hunter's Elegy For Jerry that was written the after his death. If you appreciate The Dead's music and know the effect Jerry had on the people of the sixties throughout today, this should hit home...
An Elegy For Jerry
Jerry, my friend,
you've done it again,
even in your silence
the familiar pressure
comes to bear, demanding
I pull words from the air
with only this morning
and part of this afternoon
to compose an ode worthy
of one so particular
about every turn of phrase,
demanding it hit home
in a thousand ways
before making it his own,
and this I can't do alone.
Now that the singer is gone,
where shall I go for the song?
Without your melody and taste
to lend an attitude of grace
a lyric is an orphan thing,
a hive with neither honey's taste
nor power to truely sting.
What choice have I but to dare
and call your muse who thought to rest
out of thin blue air,
that out of the field of shared time
a line or two might chance to shine
As ever when we called,
in hope if not in words
the muse descends.
How should she desert us now?
Scars of battle on her brow,
Beraggled feathers on her wings,
and yet she sings, she sings!
May she bear thee to thy rest,
the ancient bower of flowers
beyond the solitude of days,
the tyrrany of hours-
the wreath of shining laurel
lie upon you shaggy head
bestowing power to play the lyre
to the legions of the dead.
If some part of that music
is heard in deepest dream,
or on some breeze of Summer
a snatch of golden theme,
we'll know you live inside us
withlove that never parts
our good old Jack O' Diamonds
became the King of Hearts.
I fell your silent laughter
at sentiment so bold
that dare to step across the line
to tell what must be told,
so I'll just say I love you
which I never said before
and let it go at that old friend,
the rest you may ignore.
Robert Hunter 8/11/95
I also claimed to have a little something else that goes along with the music end of things. It could go on the weeks Top Ten List but they seemed to have dissapeared. Nevertheless I want to give my top approval to Ben Harper. Check out his music, it's fenominal. He's said to have parallels with Hendrix but it's not heavy guitar based tunes. His African Roots are apparent through the drumming with some acid jazz incorperated. Check out The Will To Live and Fight For Your Mind - otherwise check out his website for sound clips adn other albums. I'd put a link in but I can't figure the thing out. sorry! good day!